Guidepoint Acquires Innosquared, a European Expert Network Firm

Acquisition expands Guidepoint’s footprint in Europe and enhances service to Guidepoint’s consulting, asset management, private equity, and corporate clients in EMEA, the U.S., and Asia

February 12, 2015 (NEW YORK and DUSSELDORF, GERMANY) — Guidepoint, a leading global research services firm that connects investment professionals and business decision-makers with independent experts, today announced that it has acquired Innosquared, a Germany-based expert network with a strong presence in continental Europe.

The acquisition, complementing multiple years of strong organic growth at Guidepoint, is yet another sign of the value of expert networks for the investment, advisory, market research, and business strategy communities. It also marks Guidepoint’s return to the acquisition market. In 2009, the company purchased Vista Research from Standard & Poor’s.

“Innosquared’s experience and success with an impressive list of top global firms over the past five years made the company attractive,” said Albert Sebag, CEO of Guidepoint. “Its strong management team has developed and deployed an outstanding expert recruiting process to quickly grow their network. The acquisition of Innosquared increases the size of our network in EMEA to over 50,000 experts available to provide insights to our clients’ pressing business questions. Guidepoint gains the additional scale, skills, and credentials we need to achieve deeper penetration of the European market, an in-demand geography for our clients.”

Guidepoint is now the only global firm with a large research team based in Germany and one of only two expert networks to have two significant research locations in the EMEA region. Guidepoint makes this investment as part of its ongoing commitment to best-in-class service in all major geographies, which is showcased in the company’s new branding that premiered earlier this year.

“We are excited to work with Guidepoint’s teams in London, New York, and Asia,” said Jan-Florian Schlapfner, one of Innosquared’s founders. “Our corporate cultures are aligned — motivated, high-energy, client-oriented employees with a roll-up-your-sleeves client-servicing mentality. Both firms have earned the loyalty of their clients through high-touch customer service and custom recruiting. Our combined expert base will now have additional opportunities to share their perspectives with more clients.”

The acquisition closed on February 11. Jan-Florian Schlapfner, together with co-founders Roland Richter and Benjamin Lüpschen, will retain senior roles in the organization.

About Guidepoint

Guidepoint Global, LLC, operating as Guidepoint, is a leading research services firm that connects business decision-makers and researchers with knowledgeable independent experts across 110 industries. Since 2003, Guidepoint has provided its clients with practical insights, setting up more than 500,000 interactions. Its slate of services, including phone consultations and meetings with Advisors, custom surveys, and proprietary data products, help professionals gain comprehensive understanding of a topic before making major investment and/or business decisions. Guidepoint’s multinational client list includes seven of the top 10 consulting firms, seven of the top 10 hedge funds, and some of the largest private equity firms and Fortune-ranked companies. Guidepoint’s industry-leading compliance platform — overseen by Guidepoint’s General Counsel, a former SEC enforcement attorney — supports appropriate client-to-Advisor interactions through the application of Guidepoint’s own policies and procedures as well as custom, client-specific controls the company implements at clients’ requests. For more information, visit www.guidepointglobal.com.

About Innosquared

Active since 2009, Innosquared GmbH helps thousands of professionals obtain reliable, robust, and up-to-date intelligence a year. It is active globally with a special strength in the EMEA region, and identifies and connects clients with experienced experts from virtually any industry. Innosquared serves many of the world’s top management consultancies, multi-billion private equity firms and hedge funds, as well as Global 500 corporations. For more information, visit www.innosquared.com.